Rev. Don Campbell

Proverbs 7-9

THOUGHT FOR TODAY, June 5, 2019

“A MIND LIKE A STEEL TRAP AND A MOUTH LIKE FOGHORN LEGHORN”

Our reading today is about three women. In modern parlance, the first is a cougar or older women seeking sex with younger men. She stalked her prey while her husband traveled doing business (Proverbs 7). The second and third are not literal women, but personifications. Lady Wisdom is the only lady of the three. The third is “Folly,” who is also a seductress (Proverbs 9:13-18) in the same sense that apostate religion is called the great whore in Revelation 17.

Lady Wisdom raises her voice at every crossroad and at the city gates, calling upon all to learn prudence and sense. Many shun her call.

Anyone who rebukes a mocker will get an insult in return.
Anyone who corrects the wicked will get hurt.
So don’t bother correcting mockers;
they will only hate you.
But correct the wise,
and they will love you.
Instruct the wise,
and they will be even wiser.
Teach the righteous,
and they will learn even more. (Proverbs 9:7-9)

Reading these verses, I recalled a statement that might be humorous were it not so true and so widespread: “My mind is made up; don’t confuse me with facts.” According to the “Quote Investigator,” the first known use of this line was in 1945, but it has been attributed to many others since its original appearance. Perhaps the most recent use of the statement was made by a Congressional Representative named Earl Landgrebe who adamantly opposed the impeachment of Richard Nixon. During Nixon’s final week in office, Mr. Landgrebe said, “Don’t confuse me with facts: I’ve got a closed mind.”

Whether in politics or religion, many people have minds like steel traps, and they are always closed. They very much resemble Foghorn Leghorn, strutting about on their TV and radio shows crowing and believing all the while that it is their crowing that makes the sun rise. If you aren’t familiar with Mr. Foghorn, just key in Foghorn Leghorn in your browser.

CONNECTIONS

1. Do you believe that many politicians and political commentators follow the rule “If you can’t convince them with facts, baffle them with blarney?” [Webster gives “humbug” as a synonym of “blarney,” which means “something designed to deceive and mislead”]

2. How does the following oft-repeated quotation harmonize with Solomon’s thoughts on wisdom?

“He who knows not,
and knows not that he knows not,
is a fool; shun him.

He who knows,
and knows that he knows,
is Wise; Follow him.”